Lutetium gadolinium halide scintillators

• US 7,755,054 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (Dynasil Corp. of America)
• Original Assignee: Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (Dynasil Corp. of America)
• Inventors: Glodo, Jaroslaw, Shah, Kanai S., Van Loef, Edgar V, Higgins, William M
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher; Constantine
• Application Number:
  US12/334,351
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 250/361.R
• US Class Current: 250/361.00R
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7772 Halogenides C09K11/7767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 11/00 Single-crystal growth by normal freezing or freezing under temperature gradient, e.g. Bridgman-Stockbarger method C30B13/00, C30B15/00, C30B17/00, C30B19/00 take precedence; under a protective fluid C30B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/12 Halides
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/202 the detector being a crystal
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 2004/06 with a phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 4/00 Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens photographic processes using X-ray intensifiers G03C5/17; discharge tubes comprising luminescent screens H01J1/62; cathode ray tubes for X-ray conversion with optical output H01J31/50

Abstract

Lutetium gadolinium halide scintillators, devices and methods, including a composition having the formula Lu_xGd_(1-x)Halide and a dopant.

Claims

1. A scintillator comprising a scintillation compound and a dopant, the scintillation compound comprising lutetium gadolinium halide.

2. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the halide is iodide.

3. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the dopant comprises Ce, Lu, La, Eu, Pr, Sm, Sr, Tl, Cl, or F.

4. The scintillator of claim 3, wherein the dopant is present in an amount from about 0.1% to about 20% by molar weight.

5. The scintillator of claim 3, wherein the dopant is present in an amount from about 1% to about 5% by molar weight.

6. The scintillator of claim 3, wherein the scintillator comprises Lu_0.1Gd_0.9I₃:

Ce, Lu_0.7Gd_0.3I₃;

Ce, or Lu_0.5Gd_0.5I₃;

Ce.

7. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the scintillator is a fast scintillator under gamma-ray excitation.

8. The scintillator of claim 7, wherein the scintillator comprises a fast decay-time constant of less than about 50 nanoseconds (ns) under gamma-ray excitation.

9. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the scintillator comprises a light output greater than about 40,000 Photons/MeV under gamma-ray excitation.

10. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the scintillator comprises a light output of greater than about 80,000 Photons/MeV under gamma-ray excitation.

11. The scintillator of claim 1, wherein the scintillator comprises sensitivity to both energetic photons and to neutrons.

12. A radiation detection device, comprising a scintillator comprising a lutetium gadolinium halide scintillation compound and a dopant;

and a photodetection assembly optically coupled to the scintillator.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillator so as to detect scintillator luminescence upon scintillator excitation by X-rays, gamma rays, neutron emissions, or a combination thereof.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging device, an X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging device, a well-logging device, or a fissionable material detection device.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising a computer system coupled to the photodetection assembly such that the system outputs image data in response to detected radiation.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the photodetection assembly comprises a photomultiplier tube, a photo diode, a PIN detector, or an avalanche detector.

17. An X-ray and neutron detection device, comprising:

a scintillator composition comprising a lutetium gadolinium halide scintillation compound and a dopant;

a photodetector assembly optically coupled to the scintillator composition; and

a data analysis system coupled to the photodetector assembly so that the system outputs image data in response to detected X-ray radiation or neutrons, or both.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising a radiation source.

19. The device of claim 17, further comprising electronics configured for performing pulse-shape analysis to differentiate gamma-ray detections from neutron detections.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the scintillator composition further comprises a reflective layer, a moisture resistant layer, or a vapor barrier.

21. A method of performing radiation detection, comprising:

providing a detection device comprising a scintillator composition comprising a scintillation compound and a dopant, the scintillation compound comprising lutetium gadolinium halide; and

a photodetector assembly optically coupled to the scintillator composition; and

providing a radiation source within a field of view of the scintillator composition so as to detect emissions from the source.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the emissions comprise gamma-ray, X-ray, or neutron emissions.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the radiation source comprises a patient administered a detectable label.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein a patient comprising an absorber is between the radiation source and the scintillator composition.

25. A scintillator comprising a scintillation compound and a cerium dopant, the scintillation compound having a formula Lu_xGd_(1-x):

Halide, wherein 0≦

x≦

1.